Growing Beyond the Season

Honeydew Farm is proud to partner with the University of Minnesota on the development of a farm-scale Deep Winter Greenhouse—one of five being built and tested across Greater Minnesota.

Using passive solar design and a subterranean climate battery system, the greenhouse is designed to capture and store solar heat beneath the structure, helping create an efficient growing environment through Minnesota's colder months.

Where the Project Stands

The first $15,000 installment of University grant funding has already helped us complete major portions of the build, including excavation, installation of the underground climate battery system, frost-depth footings, framing, exterior sheathing, and waterproofing.

Our windows, doors, and exterior wrap are also on site and ready for the next stage.

Now we're working toward the materials and infrastructure needed to finish the greenhouse and begin growing.

What Still Needs to Be Completed

Remaining work includes exterior insulation and steel siding, electrical service, a frost-depth water supply, ventilation, climate-battery fans and thermostats, the interior floor, raised growing beds, and organic soil.

The University of Minnesota will also install the greenhouse's sensors and weather-station system.

What This Makes Possible

Once complete, the Deep Winter Greenhouse will give us the opportunity to experiment with growing cool-season crops such as greens, broccoli, snap peas, cabbage, potatoes, and kale beyond our traditional Minnesota growing season.

It will also provide valuable space for cool-season flowers and for starting the vegetable and flower plants that eventually make their way into our fields and market stand.

Looking further ahead, we hope to combine fresh winter greenhouse crops with storage vegetables grown during the summer to eventually offer a winter CSA.

The greenhouse will also become a place for learning. In addition to University-led programming, we hope to use the space for future classes, workshops, and other opportunities to connect our community with local food and sustainable growing.

Help Us Finish the Deep Winter Greenhouse

Additional funding will help us purchase the remaining materials and equipment needed to bring the greenhouse across the finish line.

Support the project through our GoFundMe and follow along as we turn this structure into a working, four-season growing space at Honeydew Farm.